Friday, 13 October 2017

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has written to its
former commissioner-general, Gershem Pasi, demanding the return of a
Toyota Land Cruiser he left with following his resignation early this year amid
45 charges of misconduct.

In a letter dated September 7, written by Zimra deputy
director of human resources, who is also the human capital development manager,
Betty Chimbera, on behalf of acting commissioner-general Happias Kuzvinzwa,
Pasi was asked to bring back the car without delay.

“Our records indicate that following your resignation on 22
May 2017, you are still in possession of the authority’s Toyota Land cruiser
ADJ 6890. In this regard, the authority would want this vehicle surrendered
without further delay. Please kindly advise when the authority can come and
collect the vehicle,” reads Chimbera’s letter.

When contacted for comment, Pasi said he will surrender the
car in terms of his contract.

“Normally these things are held in privacy, but seeing the
other side has already given their story — yes, I am in possession of the
vehicle.

“I don’t want to discuss the contents of that letter or my
response, but am just asking that, is it not the same vehicle which the press
went to town about that I had smuggled and put number plates belonging to a
Raum.

“So if that story was true, why then does Zimra want the
vehicle from me? As I said then, it is a Zimra vehicle. I had no reason not to
pay duty and I did not import that vehicle.”

As first reported by the Zimbabwe Independent last year,
the Zimra audit, released in September, exposed massive corruption, fraud, poor
corporate governance and tax evasion scandals within the tax authority, with
revelations that the revenue collector was prejudiced of more than US$20
million.

Pasi was expected to answer to several charges of
misconduct, which include the signing of a US$14 million contract with a
company called AVIC International for the supply of uniforms and tollgate
equipment, allegedly without following tender procedures. He was also accused
of allocating himself excessive vehicle allowances amounting to US$374 451
between 2014 and May 2016 without the approval of the board, among other
charges.

However, Pasi in an exclusive interview with the
Independent in June denied the allegations stating his conduct was above board
and all his actions were done procedurally with board approval.

He said the awarding of the tender to AVIC was negotiated
at government level through the Office of the President and Cabinet and was not
an individual decision. Pasi said Treasury was also involved in the decision.

The former commissioner-general said duty was paid for the
Toyota Land Cruiser despite allegations to the contrary. He also said the
vehicle was acquired after approval from the ministries of Transport and
Finance, cabinet and the State Procurement Board.

The Zimra board dragged Pasi to a hearing, which began in
November last year, with former High Court judge Justice Moses Chinhengo acting
as the disciplinary hearing officer. Pasi was represented by Advocate Thabani
Mpofu, acting on instructions from Mambosasa Legal Practitioners. Zimra was
represented by Kantor and Immerman Legal Practitioners.

Documents seen by the Independent in May indicated that
Zimra bosses have told Pasi they will not drop charges, as they are concerned
about issues raised in an audit carried out by HLB Chartered Accountants.

The Zimra board sanctioned the probe in July last year
after a whistle-blower’s report on irregularities in the importation of
executive cars.

According to documents detailing the proceedings during the
closed-door hearing, Pasi, on November 24, presented a proposal for settlement
to the Zimra board and was awaiting a response.

In his resignation letter, Pasi said: “My employer has
without just or lawful cause preferred unfounded charges against me. The
charges ring hollow, being based as they are, upon an incompetent audit report
prepared by auditors who abdicated their most basic functions and
responsibilities. I wish to reiterate and make it abundantly clear that I have
committed no misconduct, either of the nature alleged or at all.”

However, in response to Pasi’s resignation letter, Zimra
board chairperson Willia Bonyongwe, in a letter, said, while the board accepted
his decision, it did not agree with some of the issues he raised. Zimbabwe
independent